For Black History Month, MovieJawn is celebrating some of our favorite up and coming Black directors and actors. See all the posts here.

by Audrey Callerstrom, Staff Writer

I was excited to write about LaKeith Stanfield, an actor who showed up in supporting performances up until he starred in 2018’s Sorry to Bother You. Even in small roles, LaKeith is magnetic. He can elevate less-than-stellar films. He shows up in off-beat comedies like BoJack Horseman and my personal favorite, The Eric Andre Show. Some of his most memorable performances I’ve detailed below.

Also, look for LaKeith opposite Daniel Kaluuya (again) in Judas and the Black Messiah, coming to HBO Max on February 12. 

Short Term 12 (dir. Destin Daniel Cretton., 2013)

The film Short Term 12, written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton (who later went on to direct Just Mercy) comes from a good place. Brie Larson carries it well, but I was underwhelmed by the film as a whole. It drifted away from its more interesting characters and clung to Brie’s story as a case worker in a home for troubled kids who finds out she is pregnant. 

But I was floored by the performance of LaKeith Stanfield, who was going by Keith Stanfield at the time. Short Term 12 was LaKeith’s first feature length film; he was also in the short film of the same name. LaKeith played Marcus, a troubled teen with a history of abuse who is conflicted about turning 18 and having to leave the center. It is the standout performance of the film. In one scene, Marcus reclaims his agency by shaving his head, confronting his fear that it will expose a skull full of lumps from years of abuse. LaKeith conveys a raw and quiet vulnerability. We need to know that someone like Marcus, who has such a kind and open heart, is going to be OK.

Short Term 12 is available to watch on Amazon Prime, Tubi, and Peacock.

“Close Your Eyes (and Count to F*ck)” (dir. AG Rojas, 2014)

One year after Short Term 12, LaKeith starred in the music video for Run the Jewels’ “Close Your Eyes (and County to F*ck”). I found this out accidentally while searching for the song on YouTube. The video features LaKeith in an altercation with a police officer, played by character actor Shea Wigham (a figurative oh! That guy!). Wigham’s face is bloody; LaKeith has a swollen eye. What happened before the video begins is not clear. They wrestle clumsily while Wigham tries to handcuff LaKeith. Their fight is awkward, as if each individual is moving at 50% of their strength capacity. Not a single punch is thrown. Is it a fight? Is it a dance? At one point, each character douses themselves with a jug of milk. It’s also a terrific song. 

Get Out (dir. Jordan Peele, 2017)

With just a handful of lines, LaKeith was an integral part of Get Out. Not only does he deliver the film’s title, he delivers two performances. In the film’s opening sequence, he is Andre, walking to a party at night, suddenly abducted. When Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) goes to Rose’s (Alison Williams) parent’s house upstate, he’s Logan. He’s a young black man wearing a beige Tommy Bahama suit and hat locking arms with an older white woman. His mannerisms and movements are slow. He’s hunched, like his body is new to him. After freaking out at Chris’s camera flash, Logan composes himself and remarks that he needs to leave and that the party will need to go on without his “marvelous wit.” It’s a haunting line delivery. Marvelous wit. LaKeith makes it sound like another language. 

Get Out is available to rent on multiple streaming platforms.

Atlanta (2017-present)

LaKeith is at home in the genre-bending FX series Atlanta, from Donald Glover. Without adhering to one formula or genre, Atlanta makes for an intriguing watch. LaKeith plays Darius, an eccentric, philosophical individual and part of rapper Paper Boi’s (Bryan Tyree Henry) crew. In one scene, Darius has the following conversation while parking outside a man’s house.

               Darius: “I know you don’t know me, but my name’s Darius.” A beat.
                            “Can I measure your tree?” 

Atlanta is available to watch on Hulu. Seasons 3 and 4 are scheduled to air on FX in 2021.

Other notable LaKeith Stanfield performances:

• As Snoop Dogg in Straight Outta Compton (2015), available to rent on multiple streaming platforms

• Uncut Gems (2019), Netflix

• The Photograph (2020) available to watch on HBOMax